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Due to the situation of the crown, a telephone sick leave will be possible again in the next two and a half months. In light of the upcoming cold and flu season, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) decided on Thursday a waiver to apply as of October 19. The G-BA is comprised of representatives from legal health insurance companies, clinics, and physicians. It is the highest decision-making body for the joint self-administration of the German healthcare system.
According to the resolution, patients with mild respiratory illnesses may initially be on sick leave for up to seven calendar days by phone until the end of the year. Physicians in private practice must be personally convinced of the patient’s condition through a detailed telephone interview. Sick leave can be extended once for a further seven days by phone.
Nationally, telephone sick leave was already possible in the initial phase of the pandemic. It was later decided to allow this only at the regional level and for a limited time with exemption, depending on the occurrence of the infection. The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians recently campaigned to expand regulation again in light of the rising number of corona infections in the fall and winter. The instrument had already considerably eased practice in March and April.
“If there is something we do not need in this situation, it is full waiting rooms”
Josef Hecken, impartial chairman of the G-BA, spoke of accelerated infection dynamics with the coronavirus, in tandem with the increasing number of flu-like infections. “If there’s one thing we don’t need in this dire situation, it’s full waiting rooms,” Hecken said. The risk of infection increases only through possible contacts on the way to the consultation or while waiting in closed rooms. The experiences of the spring with telephone sick leave would have shown how carefully policyholders handled it. People with mild respiratory illnesses would have a good alternative to visit the practice.
The spatial separation of cases should primarily benefit the elderly and multi-risk patients without respiratory problems. According to Hecken, despite the pandemic, you can get the necessary medical visits and treatments without putting yourself at increased risk of infection or the spread of disease.
The panel recalled that people with typical Covid-19 symptoms or after contact with Covid-19 patients should contact a doctor by phone before visiting a doctor’s office to discuss the procedure.
The G-BA wishes to give advance notice before the end of the year if the special rule will be extended.
